释义
🔑 bet·ter BrE /ˈbetə(r) / NAmE /ˈbetər / adjective (comparative of good * good 的比较级 🔑 of a higher standard or less poor quality ; not as bad as sth else ◆ We're hoping for better weather tomorrow . ◆ Her work is getting better and better . ◆ He is in a much better mood than usual . ◆ The meal couldn't have been better . ◆ There's nothing better than a long soak in a hot bath . ◆ If you can only exercise once a week , that's better than nothing (= better than taking no exercise at all . 🔑 more able or skilled ◆ She's far better at science than her brother . 🔑 more suitable or appropriate ◆ Can you think of a better word than 'nice' ? ◆ It would be better for him to talk to his parents about his problems . ◆ You'd be better going by bus . 🔑 less ill /sick or unhappy ◆ She's a lot better today . ◆ His leg was getting better . ◆ You'll feel all the better for a good night's sleep . fully recovered after an illness ; in good health again ◆ Don't go back to work until you are better . ➡ see also well adjective (1 HELP Most idioms containing better are at the entries for the nouns and verbs in the idioms , for example better luck next time is at luck . 大多数含 better 的习语，都可在该等习语中的名词及动词相关词条找到，如 better luck next time 在词条 luck 下。 ● little /no better than almost or just the same as ; almost or just as bad as ◆ The path was no better than a sheep track . ● that's (much ) ˈbetter used to give support to sb who has been upset and is trying to become calmer ◆ Dry your eyes now . That's better . used to praise sb who has made an effort to improve ◆ That's much better —you played the right notes this time . ● the ˌbigger , ˌsmaller , ˌfaster , ˌslower , etc . the ˈbetter used to say that sth should be as big , small , etc . as possible ◆ I love giving parties , the bigger the better . ● diˌscretion is the ˌbetter part of ˈvalour (saying you should avoid danger and not take unnecessary risks ● two heads are better than ˈone (saying used to say that two people can achieve more than one person working alone ● the best /better part of sth most of sth , especially a period of time ; more than half of sth ◆ The journey took her the better part of an hour . ● preˌvention is better than ˈcure (BrE (US an ounce of preˌvention is better than a pound of ˈcure (saying it is better to stop sth bad from happening rather than try to deal with the problems after it has happened 🔑 bet·ter BrE /ˈbetə(r) / NAmE /ˈbetər / adverb (comparative of well * well 的比较级 🔑 in a more excellent or pleasant way ; not as badly ◆ She sings much better than I do . ◆ Sound travels better in water than in air . ◆ People are better educated now . 🔑 more ; to a greater degree ◆ You'll like her when you know her better . ◆ A cup of tea ? There's nothing I'd like better ! ◆ Fit people are better able to cope with stress . used to suggest that sth would be a suitable or appropriate thing to do ◆ The money could be better spent on more urgent cases . ◆ Some things are better left unsaid . ◆ You'd do better to tell her everything before she finds out from someone else . HELP Most idioms containing better are at the entries for the nouns , adjectives and verbs in the idioms , for example better the devil you know is at devil . 大多数含 better 的习语，都可在该等习语中的名词、形容词及动词相关词条找到，如 better the devil you know 在词条 devil 下。 ● be better ˈoff 🔑 to have more money ◆ Families will be better off under the new law . ◆ Her promotion means she's $100 a week better off . OPP be worse off (than sb/sth) ● be better off (doing sth )used to say that sb is /would be happier or more satisfied if they were in a particular position or did a particular thing ◆ She's better off without him . ◆ The weather was so bad we'd have been better off staying at home . ● had better /best (do sth )🔑 used to tell sb what you think they should do ◆ You'd better go to the doctor about your cough . ◆ We'd better leave now or we'll miss the bus . ◆ You'd better not do that again . ◆ 'I'll give you back the money tomorrow .' 'You'd better !' (= as a threat ◆ If you think it is going to be easy , you'd best think again .should / ought / had better Should and ought to are both used to say that something is the best thing or the right thing to do, but should is much more common. * should 和 ought to 均用以表示应该做某事，不过 should 常用得多 ： ◆ You should take the baby to the doctor's. 你应该把这婴儿带去看看医生。 ◆ I ought to give up smoking. 我应该戒烟。 In questions, should is usually used instead of ought to . 在疑问句中，通常用 should 而不是 ought to ： ◆ Should we call the doctor? 我们叫医生来好吗？ Had better can also be used to say what is the best thing to do in a situation that is happening now. * had better 亦可用以表示在目前状况下最好做某事 ： ◆ We'd better hurry or we'll miss the train. 我们最好快点，否则就赶不上火车了。 You form the past by using should have or ought to have . 过去时用 should have 或 ought to have 构成 ： ◆ She should have asked for some help. 她本应该请求帮助的。 ◆ You ought to have been more careful. 你本应该更小心一点的。 The forms should not or shouldn't (and ought not to or oughtn't to , which are rare in NAmE BrE * should not 或 shouldn't（以及在美式英语中很少见，在英式英语中为正式用法的 ought not to 或 oughtn't to）表示不应该 ： ◆ You shouldn't drive so fast. 你不应该把车开得这么快。 The forms should not have or shouldn't have and, much less frequently, ought not to have or oughtn't to have are used to talk about the past. * should not have 或 shouldn't have 以及很少用的 ought not to have 或 oughtn't to have 均用于指过去 ： ◆ I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lost my temper. 对不起，我不该发脾气。 🔑 bet·ter BrE /ˈbetə(r) / NAmE /ˈbetər / noun 🔑 [ sing. , U ] something that is better ◆ the better of the two books ◆ I expected better of him (= I thought he would have behaved better . your betters [ pl. ] (old-fashioned people who are more intelligent or more important than you ● for ˌbetter or (for ) ˈworse used to say that sth cannot be changed , whether the result is good or bad ● get the better of sb /sth to defeat sb /sth or gain an advantage ◆ No one can get the better of her in an argument . ◆ She always gets the better of an argument . ◆ His curiosity got the better of him (= he didn't intend to ask questions , but he wanted to know so badly that he did . ● so much the ˈbetter /ˈworse used to say that sth is even better /worse ◆ We don't actually need it on Tuesday , but if it arrives by then , so much the better . ● a change for the ˈbetter /ˈworse a person , thing , situation , etc . that is better /worse than the previous or present one ● your ˌelders and ˈbetters people who are older and wiser than you and whom you should respect ● think (the ) ˈbetter of sb to have a higher opinion of sb ◆ She has behaved appallingly —I must say I thought better of her . 🔑 bet·ter BrE /ˈbetə(r) / NAmE /ˈbetər / verb present simple - I / you / we / they better BrE /ˈbetə(r) / NAmE /ˈbetər / present simple - he / she / it betters BrE /ˈbetəz / NAmE /ˈbetərz / past simple bettered BrE /ˈbetəd / NAmE /ˈbetərd / past participle bettered BrE /ˈbetəd / NAmE /ˈbetərd / -ing form bettering BrE /ˈbetərɪŋ / NAmE /ˈbetərɪŋ / [ often passive ] ~ sth to be better or do sth better than sb /sth else ◆ The work he produced early in his career has never really been bettered . ~ yourself to improve your social position through education , a better job , etc . ◆ Thousands of Victorian workers joined educational associations in an attempt to better themselves .
